Socket driver, and method of connecting perforating guns

Abstract

A socket driver for a perforating gun assembly. The socket driver includes a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. The second end defines an inner diameter that has a length to extend over a threaded end of the tandem sub. The socket driver is configured to mate with a shoulder along the tandem sub of the perforating gun assembly. Specifically, the socket driver includes a radial notched profile. The notched profile is configured to mate with a radial pattern of slots along the shoulder of the tandem sub. In one aspect, the socket driver is between 3 and 8 inches in length. In one aspect, the first end of the socket driver comprises an opening configured to receive a torque tool. A method of connecting ends of perforating guns using the socket driver is also provided herein.

I claim: 
     
       1. A socket driver configured to mate with a shoulder along a tandem sub for a perforating gun assembly, comprising:
 an elongated and non-threaded tubular body defining a wall; 
 a first end; 
 a second end opposite the first end and having a second inner diameter; and 
 a radial notched profile placed at the second end and configured to mate with a radial notched profile along the shoulder of the tandem sub such that when the socket driver is rotated, torque is applied to the tandem sub; 
 and wherein:
 the tandem sub comprises:
 a first end defining first end threads configured to threadedly connect to an end of a first gun barrel housing, 
 a second end defining second end threads configured to threadedly connect to an end of a second gun barrel housing, and 
 a bore extending from the first end to the second end; 
 
 the shoulder of the tandem sub resides intermediate the first and second ends; and 
 the second inner diameter is dimensioned to slide over the first end or the second end of the tandem sub. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The socket driver of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the radial notched profile of the socket driver comprises teeth equi-distantly spaced; and 
 the shoulder of the tandem sub comprises slots equi-distantly spaced around the shoulder and dimensioned to receive the teeth of the radial notched profile of the socket driver. 
 
     
     
       3. The socket driver of  claim 2 , wherein the radial notched profile of the socket driver resides within the second inner diameter. 
     
     
       4. The socket driver of  claim 2 , wherein the radial notched profile of the socket driver extends from the second end of the socket driver. 
     
     
       5. The socket driver of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the second inner diameter is further dimensioned to slide over an outer diameter of the first or the second gun barrel housing; and 
 an end of the first or second gun barrel housing also comprises a radial notched profile that is configured to mate with the radial notched profile of the socket driver such that when the socket driver is rotated, torque is applied to the first or second gun barrel housing. 
 
     
     
       6. The socket driver of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first end comprises a first inner diameter; and 
 the second inner diameter is larger than the first inner diameter. 
 
     
     
       7. The socket driver of  claim 2 , wherein the first end comprises an opening configured to receive a torque tool. 
     
     
       8. The socket driver of  claim 7 , wherein the torque tool is a ratchet head or an Allen wrench. 
     
     
       9. The socket driver of  claim 1 , wherein the first end comprises a protruding hex configured to accommodate a wrench. 
     
     
       10. A method of connecting ends of perforating guns, comprising:
 providing a tandem sub, the tandem sub having:
 a first end defining first end threads, 
 a second end defining second end threads, 
 a bore within at least the second end, and 
 an enlarged shoulder intermediate the first and second ends, the shoulder having slots forming a radial pattern; 
 
 providing a first perforating gun, the first perforating gun comprising:
 a gun barrel housing, 
 a carrier tube residing within the gun barrel housing, and 
 a plurality of shape charges residing along the carrier tube; 
 
 providing a second perforating gun, the second perforating gun also comprising:
 a gun barrel housing, 
 a carrier tube residing within the gun barrel housing, and 
 a plurality of shape charges residing along the carrier tube; 
 
 providing a socket driver comprising:
 an elongated tubular body defining a wall; 
 a first end, 
 a second end opposite the first end and having a second inner diameter, and 
 a radial notched profile configured to mate with the radial pattern of slots along the shoulder of the tandem sub; 
 
 sliding the first end threads of the tandem sub into a first end of the gun barrel housing of the first perforating gun; 
 sliding the second end of the socket driver over the second end threads of the tandem sub to engage the notched profile of the socket driver with the slots along the shoulder of the tandem sub; 
 applying rotation of the socket driver relative to the first perforating gun to make a threaded connection between the tandem sub and the first perforating gun. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the radial notched profile of the socket driver comprises teeth equi-distantly spaced around the radial notched profile; and 
 the shoulder of the tandem sub comprises slots equi-distantly spaced around the shoulder and dimensioned to receive the teeth of the radial notched profile of the socket driver. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the radial notched profile of the socket driver resides within the second inner diameter, or the radial notched profile of the socket driver extends from the second end of the socket driver. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first end of the socket driver comprises an opening configured to receive a torque tool. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the torque tool is a ratchet head or an Allen wrench. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first end comprises a protruding hex configured to accommodate a wrench. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the carrier tube of the first perforating gun further comprises a signal line in electrical communication with a surface control, and a detonator; 
 the first end threads and the second end threads each constitute male threads; and 
 the end of the gun barrel of the first perforating gun constitutes female threads. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the tandem sub houses an addressable switch; and 
 the method further comprises—before sliding the first end threads of the tandem sub into the gun barrel housing of the first perforating gun,
 placing a lower end plate between the carrier tube of the first perforating gun and the tandem sub, and 
 mechanically connecting the detonator in the first perforating gun with the addressable switch by means of a detonation pin. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the lower end plate sealingly receives a signal transmission pin; 
 the signal transmission pin is configured to receive detonation and communication signals from a surface by means of the signal line; 
 the lower end plate also sealingly receives the detonation pin; 
 the detonation pin is configured to receive detonation signals from the addressable switch, and transmit the detonation signals across the lower end plate and back up to the detonator in the first perforating gun. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 removing the socket driver from the second end threads of the tandem sub; 
 sliding the second end threads of the tandem sub into a first end of the gun barrel housing of the second perforating gun; and 
 rotating the second perforating gun to make a threaded connection between the tandem sub and the second perforating gun. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:
 before sliding the second end threads of the tandem sub into the end of the gun barrel housing of the second perforating gun, 
 placing an upper end plate between the carrier tube of the second perforating gun and the tandem sub. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the tandem sub at the first end of the gun barrel housing of the first perforating gun is a first tandem sub; and 
 the method further comprises:
 rotationally fixing the first perforating gun; 
 removing the socket driver from the second end threads of the first tandem sub; 
 sliding a first end of the gun barrel housing of the second perforating gun onto the second end threads of the first tandem sub; 
 at least partially hand-tightening the second perforating gun onto the second end threads of the first tandem sub; 
 sliding first end threads of a second tandem sub into a second end of the second perforating gun; 
 at least partially hand-tightening the second tandem sub onto the second perforating gun; 
 sliding the second end of the socket driver over the second end threads of the second tandem sub to engage the notched profile of the socket driver with slots along the shoulder of the second tandem sub; and 
 while the first perforating gun remains rotationally fixed, applying rotation of the socket driver relative to the first perforating gun to make a tightened threaded connection between the first perforating gun, the first tandem sub, and the second perforating gun, simultaneously. 
 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the tandem sub at the first end of the gun barrel housing of the first perforating gun is a first tandem sub; and 
 the method further comprises:
 removing the socket driver from the second end threads of the tandem sub; 
 sliding the second end threads of the first tandem sub into a first end of the gun barrel housing of the second perforating gun, opposite the first perforating gun; 
 rotationally fixing the second perforating gun; 
 sliding the first end threads of a second tandem sub into a second end of the gun barrel housing of the second perforating gun; 
 at least partially hand-tightening the first end threads of the second tandem sub onto the second end of the second perforating gun; 
 sliding the second end of the socket driver over the second end threads of the second tandem sub to engage the notched profile of the socket driver with slots along a shoulder of the second tandem sub; 
 while the second perforating gun remains rotationally fixed, applying rotation of the socket driver relative to the first perforating gun to make a tightened threaded connection between the second tandem sub and the second perforating gun. 
 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the tandem sub is between 5 and 8 inches in length. 
 
     
     
       24. A method of connecting ends of perforating guns, comprising:
 providing a tandem sub, the tandem sub having:
 a first end defining first end threads, 
 a second end defining second end threads, 
 a bore extending from the first end to the second end, and 
 an enlarged shoulder intermediate the first and second ends; 
 
 providing a first perforating gun, the first perforating gun comprising:
 a gun barrel housing, 
 a carrier tube residing within the gun barrel housing, and 
 a plurality of shape charges residing along the carrier tube; 
 
 providing a second perforating gun, the second perforating gun also comprising:
 a gun barrel housing having a first end and a second end, 
 a carrier tube residing within the gun barrel housing, 
 a plurality of shape charges residing along the carrier tube, and 
 a shoulder formed around an outer diameter of the second end of the gun barrel housing of the second perforating gun, with the shoulder having slots forming a radial pattern; 
 
 providing a socket driver comprising:
 an elongated tubular body defining a wall; 
 a first end, 
 a second end opposite the first end and having a second inner diameter, and 
 a radial notched profile configured to mate with the radial pattern of slots along the shoulder of the gun barrel housing of the second perforating gun; 
 
 sliding the first end threads of the tandem sub into a first end of the gun barrel housing of the first perforating gun; 
 sliding the second end threads of the tandem sub into a first end of the gun barrel housing of the second perforating gun; 
 engaging the notched profile of the socket driver with the slots along the shoulder of the second perforating gun; 
 rotationally fixing the first perforating gun; 
 applying rotation of the socket driver relative to the first perforating gun to make a threaded connection between the tandem sub and the first perforating gun. 
 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the radial notched profile of the socket driver comprises teeth equi-distantly spaced around the radial notched profile; and 
 the shoulder of the second perforating gun comprises slots equi-distantly spaced around the shoulder and dimensioned to receive the teeth of the radial notched profile of the socket driver.